was, and is, the general's opinion, that the summary execution of a traitor worth fifteen millions, would have been an exhibition of moral strength on the part of the government, such as the times required. His guilt was beyond question. If there is, or can be, such a crime as treason against the United States, this man had committed it, not in language only, but in overt acts, numerous and aggravated. Mr. Seward, I need scarcely say, took a different view of the matter. Winans was released. Why his pikes and his steamgun were not returned to him, does not appear. A few months after, it was found necessary to place him again in confinement.

Nothing would appease General Scott short of the recall of General Butler from Baltimore, and the withdrawal of the troops from Federal Hill. General Butler was recalled, and General Cadwallader ruled in his stead. The troops were temporarily removed, and General Butler returned to Washington.

That the president did not concur with the rebuke of General Scott, was shown by his immediately offering General Butler a commission as major-general, and the command of Fortress Monroe. That the secretary of war did not concur with it, I infer from a passage of one of his letters from St. Petersburgh. "I always said," wrote Mr. Cameron, "that if you had been left at Baltimore, the rebellion would have been of short duration;" a remark, the full significance of which may, one day, become apparent to the American people. I believe I may say, without improperly using the papers before me, that more than one member of the cabinet held the opinion, that General Butler's recall from Baltimore was solely due to his frustration of the sublime strategic scheme of taking the city by the simultaneous advance of four columns of three thousand men each.

The people made known their opinion of General Butler's conduct in all the usual ways. On the evening of his arrival in Washington, he was serenaded, and most abundantly cheered. His little speech on this occasion was a great hit. The remarkable feature of it was, that it expressed, without exaggeration, as without suppression, his habitual feeling respecting the war into which the nation was groping its way. He talked to the crowd just as he had often talked, and talks to a knot of private friends:

"FELLOW-CITIZENS:-Your cheers for the old commonwealth of Massachusetts are rightly bestowed. Foremost in the ranks of those who fought

for the liberty of the country in the revolution were the men of Massachusetts. It is a historical fact, to which I take pride in now referring, that in the revolution, Massachusetts sent more men south of Mason and Dixon's line to fight for the cause of the country, than all the southern colonies put together; and in this second war, if war must come, to proclaim the Declaration of Independence anew, and as a necessary consequence, establish the Union and the constitution, Massachusetts will give, if necessary, every man in her borders, ay, and woman! [Cheers.] I trust I may be excused for speaking thus of Massachusetts; but I am confident there are many within the sound of my voice whose hearts beat with proud memories of the old commonwealth. There is this difference, I will say, between our southern brothers and ourselves, that while we love our state with the true love of a son, we love the Union and the country with an equal devotion. [Loud and prolonged applause.] We place no state rights' before, above, or beyond the Union. [Cheers.] To us our country is first, because it is our country [three cheers], and our state is next and second, because she is a part of our country and our state. [Renewed applause.] Our oath of allegiance to our country, and our oath of allegiance to our state, are interwreathed harmoniously, and never come in conflict nor clash. He who does his duty to the Union, does his duty to the state; and he who does his duty to the state does his duty to the Union-one inseparable, now and for ever.' [Renewed applause.] As I look upon this demonstration of yours, I believe it to be prompted by a love of the common cause, and our common country-a country so great and good, a government so kind, so beneficent, that the hand from which we have only felt kindness is now for the first time raised in chastisement. [Applause.] Many things in a man's life may be worse than death. So, to a government there may be many things, such as dishonor and disintegration, worse than the shedding of blood. [Cheers.] Our fathers purchased our liberty and country for us at an immense cost of treasure and blood, and by the bright heavens above us, we will not part with them without first paying the original debt, and the interest to this date! [Loud cheers.] We have in our veins the same blood as they shed; we have the same power of endurance, the same love of liberty and law. We will hold as a brother him who stands by the Union; we will hold as an enemy him who would strike from its constellation a single star. [Applause.] But, I hear some one say, 'Shall we carry on this fratricidal war? Shall we shed our brothers' blood, and meet in arms our brothers in the South? I would say, 'As our fathers did not hesitate to strike the mother country in the defense of our rights, so we should not hesitate to meet the brother as they did the mother.' If this unholy, this fratricidal war, is forced upon us, I say, Woe, woe to them who have made the necessity. Our hands are clean, our hearts are pure; but the Union must be preserved [intense cheering. When silence was restored, he continued] at all hazard of money, and, if need be, of every

life this side the arctic regions. [Cheers.] If the 25,000 northern soldiers who are here, are cut off, in six weeks 50,000 will take their place; and if they die by fever, pestilence, or the sword, a quarter of a million will take their place, till our army of the reserve will be women with their broomsticks, to drive every enemy into the gulf. [Cheers and laughter.] I have neither fear nor doubt of the issue. I feel only horror and dismay for those who have made the war. God help them! we are here for our rights, for our country, for our flag. Our faces are set south, and there shall be no footstep backward. [Immense applause.] He is mistaken who supposes we can be intimidated by threats or cajoled by compromise. The day of compromise is past.

"The government must be sustained [cheers]; and when it is sustained, we shall give everybody in the Union their rights under the constitution, as we always have, and everybody outside of the Union the steel of the Union, till they shall come under the Union. [Cheers, and cries of 'good, go on.'] It is impossible for me to go on speech making; but if you will go home to your beds, and the government will let me, I will go south fighting for the Union, and you will follow me.' 11*

A different scene awaited him the next morning in the office of the lieutenant-general, respecting which it is best to say little. He bore the lecture for half an hour without replying. But General Butler's patience under unworthy treatment is capable of being exhausted. It was exhausted on this occasion. Indeed, the spectacle of cumbrous inefficiency which the head-quarters of the army then presented, and continued long to present, was such as to grieve and alarm every man acquainted with it, who had also an adequate knowledge of the formidable task to which the country had addressed itself. I am not ashamed to relate, that General Butler, on reaching his apartment, was so deeply moved by what had passed, and by the inferences he could but draw by what had passed, that he burst into hysteric sobs, which he found himself, for some minutes, unable to repress. And, what was worse, he had serious thoughts of declining the proffered promotion, and going home to resume his practice at the bar. Not that his zeal had flagged in the cause; but it seemed doubtful whether, in the circumstances, a man of enterprise and energy would be allowed to do anything of moment to promote the cause.

CHAPTER VI.

FORTRESS MONROE.

THE president had no lecture to bestow upon General Butler; but, on the contrary, compliment and congratulation. He urged him to accept the command of Fortress Monroe, and use the same energy in retaking Norfolk as he had displayed at Annapolis and Baltimore. After a day's consideration, the general said he was willing enough to accept the proffered promotion and the command of the fortress, if he could have the means of being useful there. As a base for active operations, Fortress Monroe was good; he only objected to it as a convenient tomb for a troublesome militia general. Could he have four Massachusetts regiments, two batteries of field artillery, and the other requisites for a successful advance? Not that Massachusetts troops were better than others, only he knew them better, and they him. Yes, he could have them, and should, and whatever else he needed for effective action. An active, energetic campaign was precisely the thing desired and expected of him, and nothing should be wanting on the part of the government to render such a campaign possible. This being understood, he joyfully accepted the commission and the command. General Butler's commission as major-general dates from May 16th, two days after his thunderous march into Baltimore. He is now, therefore, in reality, the senior major-general in the service of the United States. On that day, General McClellan and General Banks were still in the pay of their respective railroad companies; General Dix was at home; General Fremont was in Europe, attending to his private affairs.

May 20th, General Butler received orders from General Scott for his guidance at the scene of his future labors:

"You will proceed," wrote the lieutenant-general, "to Fortress Monroe and assume the command of that post, when Colonel Dimmick will limit his command to the regular troops composing a part of its garrison, but

will, by himself and his officers, give such aid in the instruction of the volunteers as you may direct.

"Besides the present garrison of Fortress Monroe, consisting of such companies of regular artillery, portions of two Massachusetts regiments of volunteers, and a regiment of Vermont volunteers, nine additional regiments of volunteers from New York may soon be expected there. Only a small portion, if any, of these can be conveniently quartered or encamped in the fort, the greater part, if not the whole area of which will be necessary for exercises on the ground. The nine additional regiments must, therefore, be encamped in the best positions outside of and as near the fort as may be. For this purpose it is hoped that a pine forest north of the fort, near the bay, may be found to furnish the necessary ground and shade for some three thousand men, though somewhat distant from drinking and cooking water. This, as well as feed, it may be necessary to bring to the camp on wheels. The quartermaster's department has been instructed to furnish the necessary vehicles, casks, and draft animals. The war garrison of Fortress Monroe, against a formidable army, provided with an adequate siege train, is about 2,500 men. You will soon have there, inside and out, near three times that number. Assuming 1,500 as a garrison adequate to resist any probable attack in the next six months, or, at least, for many days or weeks, you will consider the remainder of the force, under your command, disposable for aggressive purposes and employ it accordingly.

"In respect to more distant operations, you may expect specific instructions at a later date. In the mean time, I will direct your attention to the following objects: 1st. Not to let the enemy erect batteries to annoy Fortress Monroe; 2d. To capture any batteries the enemy may have within a half day's march of you, and which may be reached by land; 3d. The same in respect to the enemy's batteries, at or about Craney Island, though requiring water craft; and 4th. To menace and to recapture the navy yard at Gosport, in order to complete its destruction, with its contents, except what it may be practicable to bring away in safety. It is expected that you put yourself into free communication with the commander of the U. S. naval forces in Hampton Roads, and invite his cordial co-operation with you in all operations, in whole or in part, by water, and no doubt he will have received corresponding instructions from the Navy Department.

"Boldness in execution is nearly always necessary; but in planning and fitting out expeditions or detachments, great circumspection is a virtue. In important cases, where time clearly permits, be sure to submit your plans and ask instructions from higher authority.

"Communicate with me often and fully on all matters important to the

service."